Akron Battles Louisiana in MAC-Sun Belt Challenge

Saturday, February 7

Akron, Ohio

12:00 PM

University of Akron

Louisiana

Buy Tickets

Akron Battles Louisiana in MAC-Sun Belt Challenge

February 06 | Women's Basketball

Akron (5-17) vs Louisiana (2-21)
Saturday, Feb. 7
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: First Meeting
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Television: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Live Radio: www.GoZips.com
Purchase Tickets: www.GoZips.com/Tickets

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team welcomes Louisiana to James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday (Feb. 7) as part of the Mid-American Conference - Sun Belt Conference Challenge. The 12 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Jim Clark on the radio call.

Tickets for the contest against the Ragin Cajuns are available for purchase at http://www.gozips.com/Tickets. Fans are asked to park in Lots 1 (Parking Deck) at corner of Carroll and Spicer Streets. For complete parking information click here.

HEAD COACHES
Louisiana: Garry Brodhead (Louisiana, 1980), Overall Record: 217-202 (14th Season), Record at Louisiana: 217-202 (14th Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 26-56 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 26-56 (Third Season)

SCOUTING LOUISIANA
Louisiana comes into action against Akron on Saturday (Feb. 7) at 2-21 on the campaign, including 1-12 mark in the Sun Belt Conference, following an 72-61 setback versus Old Dominion on Wednesday (Feb. 4).

Junior Mikaylah Manley and freshmen Amijah Price and Imani Daniel average 12.7, 11.1 and 10.8 points per game, respectively, for the Ragin Cajuns, while Daniel is pulling down a team-high 6.0 rebounds per contest. As a team, Louisiana is recording 56.3 points, 35.4 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 8.3 steals and 1.8 blocks per tilt.

Manley is rated 43rd in the NCAA in field goal attempts (327).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Louisiana are meeting for the first time in program history.

ZIPS TRIUMPH OVER TOLEDO
Akron went into halftime tied with Toledo 35-35 but took control in the second half to knock off the Rockets, 77-74, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 4).

The Zips registered their first victory over Toledo since Jan. 26, 2019, when Akron earned a 70-64 overtime triumph.

The Zips had five players score in double figures, led by sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio), who had 19 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) tacked on 14 points, a career-high nine assists and three steals and sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) chipped in as well with 13 points off the bench. Freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ind.) tallied 11 points, while junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio) contributed a 10-point and seven-rebound performance.

AKRON RALLIES PAST BUFFALO
Akron overcame a 12-point first-half deficit to register a come-from-behind 76-72 Mid-American Conference victory past Buffalo on Jan. 31 at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Shaena Brew, who had a career-high 20 points and two steals. Monique Mitchell added 15 points and Keiryn McGuff posted 12 points and nine rebounds.

Led by McGuff's two offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 11 boards that resulted in 10 second-chance points.

The Akron defense forced 17 Buffalo turnovers while committing 10. Those takeaways turned into 17 points on the offensive end of the floor. Senior Maddie Vejsicky's (New Concord, Ohio) two steals and a career-high three blocks led the way individually for the Zips.

JONES SELECTED TO WBCA NEXT GENERATION INSTITUTE
Akron women's basketball assistant coach Sarah Jones was among a select group of coaches selected to participate in the 2026 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Next Generation Institute.

Now in its fourth year, the Institute is a high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become collegiate head coach. The curriculum of the WBCA Next Generation Institute focuses on the CEO attributes needed to lead a program and be a problem-solver in today's ever-changing landscape of higher education and the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics. The Institute is held in conjunction with the WBCA Convention, which this year takes place April 2-5 in Phoenix, Ariz.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Shaena Brew and Ni'Rah Clark lead Akron over the last five games averaging a 16.0 and 13.0 points per contest, respectively. Junior Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio) is pulling down a team-best 6.8 rebounds, while Clark is shooting a team-high 52.6 percent from the field.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron's starting line-up is the youngest in the Mid-American Conference this season with the Zips having started a trio of freshman in 12 contests on the campaign.
• Akron is looking to win three straight games for the first time this season when it faces Louisiana.
• Shaena Brew's career-high nine assists versus Toledo (Feb. 4) are the most by a Zip since Jordyn Dawson dished out 10 dimes against Bowling Green on Jan. 8, 2022.
• Shaena Brew equaled a career high with a 20-point effort against Buffalo (Jan. 31), while Maddie Vejsicky posted a career-best three blocks.
• Sophomore Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) equaled a career high in rebounds pulling down three at Bowling Green, while Keiryn McGuff matched a career-best two steals versus the Falcons.
• Ni'Rah Clark poured in a career-high 25 points at Massachusetts (Jan. 14) on 11-of-16 shooting, while Keiryn McGuff dished out a career-best four assists.
• Shaena Brew has recorded three or more assists in 14 games this season.
• Freshman Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.) has pulled down four or more rebounds in 11 contests on the campaign, including nine of the last 13 games.
• Keiryn McGuff has registered four or more rebounds 18 times this season, including 14 straight games.
• Ni'Rah Clark has shot 40 percent or better in 15 games on the campaign en route to maintaining a team-best .512 shooting mark from the field.
• Keiryn McGuff pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds at Western Michigan (Jan. 7), while also recording a career-high four blocked shots. Her four blocks stand as the 11th-best single-game effort in program history matching a four-block performance from Ni'Rah Clark versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28, 2024).
• Akron posted seven career-high marks at Ohio (Jan. 3), including a career-best 14-point effort from Corinne Reed, while also equaling a career- and season-high five assists.
• The Zips shot a season-best 58.8 percent from the field versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21), including shooting 75 percent in the third quarter on 9-of-12 shooting.
• The Zips netted six career-best marks against Le Moyne (Dec. 21).
• On the strength of Akron's 100-65 victory over Geneva (Dec. 16), the Zips have scored 100 or more points twice in a season for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign.
• Akron got double-doubles from both Ni'Rah Clark and Keiryn McGuff marking the first pair of double-doubles in a game from Zips since Reagan Bass (15 points & 13 rebounds) and Molly Neitzel (12 points and 11 rebounds) did so versus Kent State on Feb. 1, 2023.
• The Akron bench came alive against Geneva adding 65 points to its scoring output, en route to five Akron players scored 10 or more points, including a trio off the bench.
• Akron is rated fourth in the Mid-American Conference in triples made (7.0), while in league-only affairs the Zips are ranked fourth in three pointers (6.6) and defensive rebounding (24.1) and fifth in offensive rebounding (11.8).
• Individually, Shaena Brew is eighth in assists (3.7), Izzy Callaway is fifth in three-point percentage (.418), Keiryn McGuff is 10th in rebounding (6.2) and Ni'Rah Clark is 10th in field goal percentage (.512).
• In league-only contests Keiryn McGuff is eighth in rebounding (7.0) and Shaena Brew is eighth in assists (3.8).
• Akron is 27th in the NCAA in bench scoring (26.3).
• Led by career-high 36-, 20- and 16-point scoring performances from Izzy Callaway, Shaena Brew and Liz Murphy, the Zips posted 14 career-high marks against Heidelberg (Dec. 3).
• Akron's 117 points against Heidelberg (Dec. 3) represented its highest scoring game since earning a 118-71 triumph past Tennessee Tech on Nov. 12, 2013.
• Izzy Callaway's 36-point effort against Heidelberg stands as the top scoring performance in the Mid-American Conference this season and rates No. 39 in the NCAA. It also ranks sixth on the all-time single-game scoring list in program history last accomplished by Anita Brown on Jan. 14, 2015, at Toledo.
• Izzy Callaway connected on a league-best 13 field goals and eight three pointers against Heidelberg (Dec. 3).
• The eight three pointers for Izzy Callaway versus Heidelberg are the third-best single-game total in program history matching eight drained by Taylor Ruper against Ball State on Feb. 12, 2011.
• Akron's 44 made field goals against Heidelberg is the fourth-best single-game effort in program history, while the 13 triples represent the eighth highest single-game mark.
• A season-best five Zips in Izzy Callaway (36), Shaena Brew (20), Liz Murphy (16), senior Natalie Johnson (Waldorf, Md.) (13) and Monique Mitchell (13) scored in double-figures against Heidelberg (Dec. 3). Additionally, Brew and Ella Wigal pulled down a career-high 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Shaena Brew (12), Ni'Rah Clark (10), Monique Mitchell (9), Keiryn McGuff (7), Izzy Callaway (6), Corinne Reed (5), Liz Murphy (3), Natalie Johnson (2), redshirt senior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1).
• Seven different Zips have led the squad in scoring this season led by Ni'Rah Clark (8), Shaena Brew (5), Monique Mitchell (4), Keiryn McGuff (3), Izzy Callaway (2), Corinne Reed (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1), while eight different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by McGuff (12), Clark (8), Brew (4), Reed (4), Ella Wigal (2), Natalie Johnson (1) and senior Liisa Taponen (1) and Vejsicky (1).
• Monique Mitchell registered a career-high 21-point scoring effort at South Alabama (Nov. 3).
• The 2024-25 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll included Akron, who under head coach Ryan Gensler earned special mention nods for having a 3.225 overall team GPA for the 2024-25 academic year.
• The Zips have posted eight 20+ scoring games this season. Keiryn McGuff tallied 20 points versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21). Izzy Callaway netted 36 against Heidelberg (Dec. 3) and Shaena Brew tallied 20 versus both Heidelberg (Dec. 3) and Buffalo (Jan. 31). Ni'Rah Clark scored 22 points at Kent State (Jan. 17), 25 points at Massachusetts (Jan. 14), 22 points at Robert Morris (Nov. 7) and 21 points versus Geneva (Dec. 16), while Monique Mitchell tallied 21 points against South Alabama (Nov. 3) and 20 versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21).
• The 2025-26 season marks the 52nd season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• The Zips own season-high marks in scoring (117-HEID), field goals made (44-HEID), triples (13-HEID), offensive rebounds (28-GEN), defensive rebounds (34-GEN), rebounds (62-GEN), assists (22-LEMO), steals (14-HEID) and blocks (5-HEID).
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 130 of its last 173 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 13 triples in an 117-34 victory versus Heidelberg (Dec. 3).

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 22 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .588 (Le Moyne), .587 (Heidelberg), .511 (Notre Dame), 40 percent: .469 (Binghamton), .468 (Toledo-1), .443 (Kent State-1), .440 (Robert Morris), .438 (Michigan), .433 (Buffalo-1), .414 (South Alabama), .410 (Geneva), .400 (Ball State-1), 30 percent: .370 (Delaware), .367 (UMass-1), .356 (Youngstown State), .352 (Central Michigan-1), .321 (Cleveland State), .349 (Bowling Green-1), .315 (Miami-1), .309 (Ohio-1), 20 percent: .295 (Xavier), .249 (Western Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 22 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .593 (Kent State-1), .559 (Youngstown State), .558 (Miami-1), .500 (Ohio-1), .500 (Ball State-1), 40 percent: .493 (UMass-1), .485 (Michigan), .484 (Toledo-1), .474 (Delaware), .474 (South Alabama), .472 (Le Moyne), .472 (Cleveland State), .470 (Notre Dame), .458 (Buffalo-1), .452 (Central Michigan-1), .434 (Robert Morris), .429 (Bowling Green-1), .407 (Xavier), 30 percent: .395 (Binghamton), .373 (Western Michigan-1), .338 (Geneva), 20 percent: .156 (Heidelberg).

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Zips under third-year head coach Ryan Gensler, were picked to finish eighth as a team behind preseason league and tournament favorite preseason favorite Kent State (5 first-place votes and 133 points). The Golden Flashes were followed by Toledo (2 votes, 118 points), UMass (3 votes, 115), Ball State (3 votes, 112), Central Michigan (105), Bowling Green (101), Miami (86), Akron (51), Western Michigan (48), Ohio (44), Buffalo (42), Eastern Michigan (36) and Northern Illinois (23).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 31.7 points per game for 698 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 62 points in the paint versus Heidelberg (Dec. 3). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint – 31.7 ppg (698) | Season-High - 62 vs. Heidelberg
Points off Turnovers – 14.9 ppg (328) | Season-High - 39 vs. Heidelberg
Second-Chance Points – 10.5 ppg (231) | Season-High - 29 vs. Geneva
Fast-Break Points – 10.3 ppg (226) | Season-High - 36 vs. Heidelberg
Bench Points – 26.4 ppg (580) | Season-High - 81 vs. Heidelberg

HOME COOKING
Inside the friendly confines of James A. Rhodes Arena, the Zips have seen a lot of success over the course of the past 20 seasons. When playing on its home court, Akron owns a 144-102 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign. This season, the Zips average 76.6 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 42 percent (.415) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.9 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 6.7 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Central Michigan for a 6:30 p.m. tilt on Wednesday (Feb. 11).